The actress, who played barmaid Gina Ward for 18 years, revealed that she had bought The Goathland Hotel – known to millions as the Aidensfield Arms – alongside two business partners, marking a full-circle moment for fans of the long-running series.
Following the announcement, Press readers shared their own stories of the much-loved pub and its role both on and off screen.
Heartbeat fans’ memories as TV star takes on Goathland Hotel, pictured. (Image: Submitted)
Taking to The Press website and Facebook page, some recalled how the show was made, with filming taking place both in Goathland and beyond.
Philip Hopkinson said: “The internal scenes were indeed initially filmed inside the Goathland Hotel for the first 2/3 years but after that, like many internal scenes, were filmed in an old mill in Farsley, West Yorkshire.
“My wife and I were invited to the sets during the final months of filming.”
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Others pointed to scenes filmed closer to York.
Granville Durkin said: “A lot of the exterior scenes were filmed in the Acomb, Foxwood and Chapelfields areas of York.
“One of the most memorable episodes, where Greengrass gets his private parts caught in a mousetrap, was filmed on Bramham Road in Chapelfields.”
For many, however, the pub’s importance goes far beyond television.
The Aidensfield Arms, in Heartbeat. (Image: Submitted)
Keith Thompson said: “It was ‘village central’ for many years, the social hub of the village, not some fictitious place depicted on a TV screen.
“If you wanted something, wanted help, needed advice, an opinion, or just to talk then the pub bar of the Goathland was that place.
“People think that TV ‘made’ the village, brought tourism, ‘put it on the map’ is the oft trailed expression, the village was a tourist destination long before YTV ‘discovered’ it.”
The show’s global reach was also clear, with fans travelling from afar to visit.
Susanne Linde, from Sweden, said: “I came to Goathland 2014 to visit the pub and stay at the hotel – all because of the TV series ‘Heartbeat’. And – I love steam trains! So NYMR was a dream come true.
“I fell in love with both The Aidensfield Arms and Goathland. So I came back from Sweden to visit every year after that, sometimes twice and even three times a year.
“I got friends with the owners of the hotel and I did even work at the pub and hotel a couple of times for some weeks. ..Lovely memories.”
Others shared connections to the show itself.
Wendy Coates said: “My husband worked on the set of Heartbeat for 10 years. Providing period car, Volvo Amazon 130. Knows Miss Penrose, lovely lady.”
And there was excitement about what the future might hold.
Chris Hoggard said: “I just hope we can say ‘Pint please Ginna’.”
James Birkinshaw said: “Nice for her, it played a big part of her life and now gets to share it with other that the way to do it. Well done lass – all them hours well worth it; things always come at the right time.”
Brian Womble added: “Had a wonderful time visiting Goathland and the pub for a drink a few years ago. Need to go back xxx.”
Reader Gloria Tyler Daykin suggested a name change: “I wish them all the best and I’m pretty sure they’ll change the name to the Aidensfield Arms in keeping with the show.”
The Goathland Hotel has long attracted visitors from across the world thanks to its starring role in Heartbeat, which ran from 1992 to 2010 and was filmed across North Yorkshire.
Now, with one of its best-known faces at the helm, many fans are hoping the spirit of the Aidensfield Arms will live on for years to come.
What are your memories of Heartbeat and filming in North Yorkshire? We’d love to hear – email nadia.jeffersonbrown@newsquest.co.uk
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